For football giants Italy the next few days could be a nightmare as they face a double-headed playoff against Sweden to avoid the humiliation of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
For football giants Italy the next few days could be a nightmare as they face a double-headed playoff against Sweden to avoid the humiliation of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. “A World Cup without Italy isn’t a World Cup” has become the catchphrase of many Italians — four-time world champions — who are perplexed at how the once-mighty Azzurri have fallen so low.
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Italy players train in Florence yesterday ahead of their World Cup play-off tie against Sweden at Milan tonight. Pic/Getty Images
The last time Italy missed the World Cup was the 1958 edition which was hosted in Sweden. “I don’t even consider the idea of not qualifying. We’ll go to Russia for sure,” insisted coach Gian Piero Ventura, who took over from Antonio Conte after the 2016 European Championship. “We’re Italy and missing out on the World Cup is not an option,” added experienced centre-back Leonardo Bonucci.
The playoff puts Italy’s proud record of World Cup participation in danger. The Azzurri are tied with Germany for most appearances by a European nation, 18. “Italy is Italy and has a particular standing in world football. And it’s inevitable that they are favourite,” said former Italy international Roberto Mancini. “It’s sure at 100 percent that we’ll be at the World Cup. And historically when we struggle to qualify then we usually make a big tournament,” he added.
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